The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Mixed reaction to mass transfers in IAS ranks

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Mixed reaction to mass transfers in IAS ranks

Special Correspondent

Number of officials shifted in 1-year's Congress rule rises to 150 It's just the beginning, says an official

HYDERABAD: There was a mixed reaction in the administration on Monday to the mass transfer of IAS officers by the Government.

The latest reshuffle, which covered 73 IAS officers, has taken the number of transfers during the one-year Congress rule to a nearly 150.

"This is only the beginning of the process of revamping the administration," a senior Government official said. He did not rule out the possibility of another instalment of transfer of IAS and IPS officers.

A senior IAS officer said: "It is the Government's prerogative to transfer personnel any time it wants to fulfil the promises given to people." Officials who were given plum postings were busy responding to congratulatory telephone calls while those who were shifted to the "loop line'' were visibly unhappy. In the latter category was an officer who had completed only five months in his present post and six months in the posting prior to that.

Caught by surprise

Among the changes that surprised the bureaucracy was the transfer of Suresh Chanda as Secretary to the Chief Commissioner of Land Administration. Mr. Chanda, who was Irrigation Secretary, was tipped to Maharashtra to take up the issue of illegal projects on the Godavari.

He has now been replaced by Satish Chandra, who worked with the former Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu.

The Secretariat was agog over the issue of mass transfers which were interestingly effected on a Sunday.

The perception among the staff was that the changes at the top level were indicative of the resolve expressed by the Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, to streamline the administration.

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